Lockout device for a chain wheel operated valve

Abstract

The lockout device has a body with one or more continuous sidewalls, an open end and a bottom defining an interior volume. It also has a lid pivotally attached to at least one of the sidewalls and moveable between an open and closed position. The lid is located to cover at least a portion of the open end of the body when in the closed position. The device also has a closure mechanism capable of holding the lid in a closed position. A pin extends at a downward angle from one of the side across a gap in the lid.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lockout device for a chain wheel valve operator, said device comprising:
 a body having one or more sidewalls, an open end and a bottom, the one or more sidewalls being continuous with one another, the open end opposing the bottom and the one or more side walls, open end and bottom end defining an interior volume, the interior volume being generally cylindrical and capable of receiving a chain from the chain wheel valve operator; 
 a pin extending from one of the one or more sidewalls; 
 a lid pivotally attached to at least one of the sidewalls and located to cover at least a portion of the open end; 
 a closure mechanism capable of holding the lid stationary relative to the one or more continuous sidewalls; and 
 an axis of pivot for the lid being located between the closure mechanism and a portion of the lid that extends across the open end of the body when the lid is in a closed position. 
 
     
     
       2. A lockout device according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more openings in the bottom. 
     
     
       3. A lockout device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle located on an exterior surface of the lockout device. 
     
     
       4. A lockout device according to  claim 3 , further comprising the handle extending across an exterior bottom of the body. 
     
     
       5. A lockout device according to  claim 1 , said closure mechanism comprising:
 a loop mounted to an exterior surface of the lockout device and extending from the same exterior surface; and 
 an aperture in the lid sized and located to surround the loop in a closed position. 
 
     
     
       6. A lockout device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gap between one of the sidewalls and the lid and the pin extending across the gap and under the lid. 
     
     
       7. A lockout device according to  claim 6 , further comprising the pin extending downwardly at an angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the sidewall. 
     
     
       8. A lockout device according to  claim 6 , further comprising the pin extending downwardly at an angle within the range of 85 to 40 degrees relative to the sidewall. 
     
     
       9. A lockout device for a chain wheel valve operator, said device comprising:
 a body having one or more sidewalls, an open end and a bottom, the one or more sidewalls being continuous with one another, the open end opposing the bottom and the one or more side walls, open end and bottom end defining an interior volume, the interior volume being generally cylindrical and capable of receiving a chain from the chain wheel valve operator; 
 a pin extending from one of the one or more sidewalls; 
 a lid pivotally attached to at least one of the sidewalls by an axis of pivot, the lid located to cover at least a portion of the open end when the lid is in a closed position; and 
 a closure mechanism capable of holding the lid in the closed position and stationary relative to the one or more sidewalls; 
 wherein the lid's axis of pivot is located between the closure mechanism and the portion of the lid that covers a portion of the open end of the body.